The Drummer Boy is a former orphan who was rescued by the party from a burning orphanage, but later transformed into an undead lich-like entity with the power to raise and command the dead.
Description
- Wears red clothing
- Has mutilated hands with only index fingers remaining, which serve as drumsticks
- Can phase shift and zip across distances
- Surrounded by smaller undead figures
- Associated with the song “Little Drummer Boy” (pa-ra-pa-pum)
Abilities
- Can raise the dead with a wave of his hand
- Can kill and re-animate creatures instantly
- Phase shifting/teleportation
- Commands undead (zombies made from orphan children)
- Lich-like powers
- Has placed a Bodak guardian in his lair
- Has been tracking/bugging the party
Background
Originally an orphan child in Lyric, covered in protective rats when rescued from the burning orphanage during the Material Plane Riots. Somehow transformed into a powerful undead entity.
Chronology
Rescue from Orphanage
- Was in burning orphanage during Material Plane Riots
- Appeared as a “vague lump with pieces on fire falling off”
- Revealed to be a child covered in rats that were protecting him as he walked through fire
- The child was unharmed
- Rescued by Hanzo, Ev, and Harloc
- Placed in Hanzo’s wagon with other children
- Cried about the drums in his head
- Transported south with the party
- Later handed off to Sam along with other children
Transformation
- The party mishandled Viscount Bridgerton and left him bound at The Lone Beatle.
- They also left all the orphan children with Sam
- Viscount Bridgerton took out his rage at the party on the children, leaving them with the Cult of Darkness to be tortured
- The drummer boy had to witness the loss of 8 fingers and watch his friends die
- Something snapped within him, transforming him into an avatar of Percussion
Confrontation in the Mine
- Party tracked children to Cult of Darkness mine near Ode
- Viscount Bridgerton had sold the children to the cult
- Found in massive chamber, drumming (pa-ra-pa-pum) surrounded by smaller undead figures
- Zipped to the party with supernatural speed
- Revealed mutilated hands with only index fingers as drumsticks
- Blamed the party for “not being there to save them”
- Demonstrated power by killing and re-animating one of the smaller figures
- Cocked his head and phase shifted out before party could engage
- Left behind undead orphan zombies that gasped “Please” when party tried to communicate
- Party killed the undead children (calling it “an act of mercy”)
- Has placed a Bodak guardian in the endless staircase
Aftermath
- Party encountered Prince of Darkness mage exploring the mine
- Mage’s entourage encountered the Bodak and exclaimed
- Party reasoned the Bodak was placed by Drummer Boy
Being Tracked
- Maurice revealed he knows the party has encountered the Drummer Boy
- Implies Drummer Boy has been tracking or monitoring the party
- Connection to larger prophecy mentioned
Connections
- Originally rescued by the party
- Connected to Cult of Darkness and their torture of children
- Viscount Bridgerton sold children including Drummer Boy to the cult
- Maurice is aware of party’s encounter with Drummer Boy
- Has been tracking the party somehow